GRABBING WHAT'S QUICK, MISSING WHAT'S BETTER

"Grabbing What's Quick, Missing What's Better."

    If anybody ever tells you that travel is glamorous, would you have them talk to me, or anybody who flies a lot?  The other day I had one of those
glamorous days, chasing through airports to make connections because of delayed flights.   And since you don't see many meals on airplanes these
days, you have to grab what you can.  In this particular airport, I had a few extra minutes for a meal, but, not knowing if there would be any other
options between where I was and my gate, I grabbed the first thing in sight.  Which happened to be the gourmet treat known as a hot dog.  It
wasn't even that great of a hot dog.  But what was especially aggravating was what I saw after I wolfed that hot dog - within two minutes I walked by
two or three places where I could have had a real meal!  But no - I couldn't wait.

    Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Grabbing What's Quick, Missing What's Better."

    My mistake that day at the airport was very simple - and very easily avoided.   I went for what I could have at the moment and I missed
something a lot better.  But that's a pretty common mistake.  Especially when it comes to love.  And especially when it comes to sex.

    In our word for today from the Word of God, a man named Esau makes that tragic mistake of trading what he can have now for something much better he
could have had later.  The issue was something the Jews called the birthright - the legal privileges of the firstborn son for a double
inheritance and other great benefits.  Jacob, the younger brother, wants the birthright that belongs to Esau.

    In Genesis 25:29, Esau comes in from a hunting trip with a powerful appetite.  Jacob is cooking a pot of stew - which Esau asks to share.  The
story picks up as "Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.'  'Look, I am about to die,' Esau said (which was probably a huge exaggeration).
What good is the birthright to me?' . . . So he swore an oath to Jacob, selling him his birthright.'"  A tragic mistake.  The New Testament
comments on his choice this way:  "Esau, for a single meal, sold his inheritance . . . afterward . . . when he wanted to inherit this blessing,
he was rejected"  (Hebrews 12:16-17).  Too late.  He took what he could have right now and forfeited something so much more valuable - because he
couldn't wait.

    And so many people have done that for love.  So many people have done that sexually.  God designed sex to be one man with one woman in a committed
lifetime relationship.  And when you wait for that kind of exclusive love, you experience sex at its best - the way God designed it.  But it's very
tempting to go for what looks and feels like love now - especially if you've been waiting a while.  But you're losing something that is just too
special to sacrifice.

    Right now you may be facing the temptation to do something for love that will cost you the "birthright" God has for you if you wait.  And like Esau,
once you've met your immediate need, you'll realize that you gave what you cannot get back.  Whatever the pressure, whatever the temptation, however
strong the feelings are, don't make a mistake that you'll regret for a long, long time.

    God has something beautiful up ahead.  Don't blow it by grabbing what's there now and missing what is so much better.  It's worth the wait.